Welcome to the 2014-2015 academic year and The William States Lee College of Engineering! I hope your summer was both enjoyable and productive. The coming year will surely be a busy one for us all. Enrollment has continued to grow, and we are expecting 3300 students or more. The faculty and staff will provide you with an excellent engineering education. The education you receive here is second to none.

I am sympathetic to the rising cost of higher education. The poor economy and dwindling state support for higher education is being felt by all involved. On a more positive note, the college enjoys excellent facilities. This is your student home so please take good care of your facilities and take pride in your college and university.

I extend a special welcome to our new freshman and transfer students. We are delighted that you have chosen to study at UNC Charlotte and become part of the greater Charlotte community. This is a great university in a wonderful part of the United States and North Carolina. You will always remember your days at UNC Charlotte. You should become familiar with the faculty and staff in the Office of Student Development and Success, OSDS, located in Smith 228. They have a wide variety of resources available to assist you with successfully completing the curriculum and exploring internship and co-op opportunities.

We have a great college and many talented faculty and staff who want to work with you. Take time to get to know them while you are here; they will help you now and will also be a valuable resource to you throughout your career. Get connected to the college and university! I encourage you to take advantage of as many wonderful opportunities at UNC Charlotte as you can. The university and college have a lot to offer. Time goes by quickly; so manage your time carefully. A well-rounded engineer will be a more successful engineer.

Is everyone ready for the second year of college football? Have a great year and go 49ers!

Robert Johnson, Professor and Dean

Lee College of Engineering

Leadership Academy Class 13 Applications

Would you like to develop the leadership skills employers seek while meeting other College of Engineering students who share your same interest and have some fun along the way? Apply now to the Leadership Academy! College of Engineering students who are in their second or third year or are new transfer students, who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, and who will continue as undergraduate students through the spring 2016 semester, are eligible to apply. To learn more about the program visit www.coe.uncc.edu/leadership. The application deadline is 12:00 Noon, Thursday, September 18th. Interviews will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, September 25, 24, and 25. For questions or additional information please contact Don Blackmon at dbblackm@uncc.edu.

Calling All MAPS Participants…

If you are currently enrolled in the College of Engineering MAPS program, hold fast and remain dedicated in your participation, particularly since we have a waiting list of students eager to participate. The lessons that you will learn in MAPS will remain with you throughout your college and professional career. In your MAPS coaching you will acquire some of the most fundamental skills and principles necessary for success. Always remember that your personal success in the College of Engineering is a function of decision making, communication, and work ethic. Decide to commit, be present, and focus your attention; communicate and interact with fellow students, professors, and available resources; and define and manage your time and work load to achieve your educational goals. These are the pillars of the MAPS program.

Get ahead of the curve with Supplemental Instruction (SI). Be proactive! Don’t wait until you are in trouble to sign up!

Students! Do not miss your chance to network and speak with 70+ engineering and technical employers at the college’s 14th annual fall career exploration, networking and recruiting picnic on Friday, October 10, 2014 from 11AM-2PM at the West Quad Field. The field is located behind the Cone Center and in front of the Belk Gym. FREE lunch for students, faculty and staff in our college. Just stop by the check-in table for your hand stamp! Special thanks to our 49er Gold Sponsors: AREVA, CB&I, Duke Energy, Eaton Corp, Freightliner Custom Chassis, Honda R & D Americas, Husqvarna Group, NAVAIR, Schaeffler Group, Siemens, and URS. To view all participants (updated daily) visit: http://pd.uncc.edu/employers/annual-fall-picnic. FREE EVENT - no RSVP needed!

1st Annual STEM Day

UNC Charlotte will hold its first Annual STEM Day on October 6 in the James H. Barnhardt Student Activity Center (SAC). Regional middle and high school students are invited to attend this event. Participants will be introduced to Engineering, Mathematics, and Science degrees and careers in STEM fields. If you are interested in hosting a table with a STEM/engineering demonstration or activity please contact Gina Robinson at GRobinson@uncc.edu.

College of Engineering Senior Design Exposition

Mark your calendar now and join us for the fall 2014 Senior Design Exposition! This highly anticipated event will be held on Friday, December 5 from 11:00 – 3:00 in the Barnhardt Student Activity Center. The Expo will feature over 30 completed Senior Design projects. Come see an exciting variety of projects that our seniors have been working on. Many are sponsored by local engineering companies.

Important News from the University Career Center (UCC)

The UCC has a wide variety of workshops and resources to help you. Visit Atkins 150 or www.career.uncc.edu. Megan Corkery is the Career Advisor for the College of Engineering (https://career.uncc.edu/directory/megan-corkery). She is available for one-on-one consultations to discuss internship and co-op opportunities, resumes, job search, grad school, or interviewing. To schedule an appointment call 704-687-0795, or email her at megan.corkery@uncc.edu. Megan holds weekly drop-in hours in the lobby of EPIC Building every Wednesday from 3pm-4:30pm in the fall and spring semesters (starting September 3rd, 2014).

Triangle Pest Control is offering a $1,000 scholarship for the fall 2015 academic year that will go to a North Carolina student interested in environmental technology/engineering. For more information visit